So, I just went on a mini-date. I met the guy I've been seeing for coffee in the downtown of a neighboring suburb. We walked along the Riverwalk and ended browsing an Antique shop. How cliche is that? The whole time I was wondering how many of the other shoppers (it was crowded) were thinking "I wonder if they're a couple." Thing is I wasn't self-concious at all.
That's really wonderful... love to hear it! Just being able to be out and about, no worries... Really hope to get there myself one day. Thanks for the update.
@bsg75apollo, that's great! I am so happy for you. I am a lot more free away from home. My "friend" lives about three hours away, in the Bay Area of California. When I am with him it is so liberating to not be afraid of whether someone is homophobic. I am sure some are but there, it doesn't matter.
It's so cliche I thought I was going to find a punchline here from the title alone, but I frankly find your story to be heartwarming and very sweet, and I appreciate you sharing! It's wonderful to hear on EC about living their lives as their true selves. It gives me a lot of hope that I'll join them someday soon! The only thing that bothers me is knowing you struggle with self-consciousness at all, let alone about something as beautiful as love. To you, your man, and a future where we can all be free!
I come and go but wanted to add my 2 cents. Your story brings on a smile. It's good you didn't care what people thought. What makes you think people even thought about this? Every other word in the antique store wasn't "fabulous," was it? I have a more recent single and unattached friend I go to eat with every now and them. When we do, time flies and we're there for 2 or 3 hours. I don't know what people think and I don't care. Did you stumble into each other at the same coffee store and become friends? I suppose that's more proof that you don't need to go to a bar or a health club.
After awhile you discover people don't even have to wonder if you're a couple, because your body language totally gives you away. My guy and I are not big on PDAs, although we're fine with a kiss goodbye in the parking lot if we took separate cars. But I remember seeing us in a mirror once just idly talking - one of those weird situations where you don't realize at first that you ARE looking in a mirror - and thinking, well those two guys are clearly "together". And then boom, I realized I was looking at the two of us, and thought, we are SO totally obvious! It's a very sweet feeling.
That sounds idyllic. I have been on a coffee date to: a carwash, antique store, market faire, vinyl record faire, road trip... all been very interesting and fun.
